“But you,” He asked them, “who do you say that I am?”
Simon Peter answered, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” Matthew 16:15–16
Peter answers a decisive question: Who is Jesus?
His answer is clear, inspired, and beautiful: "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”
This is the foundation of the Christian faith.
Everything begins there: recognizing Jesus for who He truly is.
But after Peter’s confession, another question can rise in our hearts:
“Lord, and You—what do You say about me?”
That is a personal, deep, and, honestly, a little unsettling question. And yet it is one we should have the courage to ask Jesus. Because very often, we would rather talk about God than allow ourselves to be looked at by Him. A very human habit—nothing new under the sun.
And yet this is precisely where something precious is found: when Jesus speaks about a person, He never does so in order to crush them.
He speaks the truth—yes—but always through grace.
It is not a wrong question.
Nor is it a question of pride.
It is a question of relationship.
For when we truly recognize who Jesus is, we also sincerely desire to know how He sees us. And yes, sometimes that can hurt.
But the Lord’s answer is never harsh or wounding.
He does not look the way people look.
People see the outward appearance, the past, the labels, the successes, or the failures.
In Revelation 1:14 it says:…"His eyes were like a flame of fire.”
His gaze pierces through everything. Nothing is hidden from Him. He sees:
• the true condition of the heart
• sincere faith
• compromises
• wounds
• hidden intentions
The fire here speaks of a gaze that searches, discerns, and judges in truth.
The Lord never looks only at the surface.
He is not impressed by religious appearance.
This passage is one of the greatest revelations of the glory of the risen Christ. John no longer sees Jesus in His humiliation, as in the days of His earthly life, but exalted, living, sovereign, and glorious.
He could say to us: “I know you. I love you. You are precious in My eyes. Do not be afraid."
I know your struggles, your weariness, your thoughts, your wounds, and your sincere desires. You do not need to pretend before Me.”
And near Jesus, we discover something else as well:
our identity is not based on what we do, on what we feel, or even on what we have failed at.
We are people who are known, called, and loved by God.
So we may ask ourselves: Do I let Jesus tell me how He sees me?
Am I willing to let myself be searched by His piercing gaze?**
Let us remember this: in Christ, we are no longer defined first by our past, our failures, our lack, or by the way others look at us. That old inner courtroom may still try to reopen the case—but it no longer has the final word. Rather dramatic of it, really.
Christian faith does not consist only in giving the right answer about Jesus.
It also means allowing ourselves to be encountered by Him.
The meeting between Jesus and John in Revelation 1:14 is truly remarkable. It shows us that Christ walks among the golden lampstands—that is, among the churches—and that He cares for them. They are deeply on His heart.
And so today we can pray:
“Lord, since You are the Christ, tell me also who I am before You. Teach me to see myself through Your eyes and to live a life worthy of You as Your child.”
When I recognize who Jesus is, I finally discover who I am in Him.
Franz
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